About HCPSS – By the Numbers
The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) consistently ranks among the top school districts in Maryland and nationwide.
HCPSS is a learning community that ignites growth, well-being, and excellence for all. It is a place that values diversity, equity and inclusion; supports professional growth for staff at all levels; provides competitive compensation and extensive benefits packages; and welcomes and encourages creativity/innovative thinking.
Data sources for the information on this page include the HCPSS Official 2025-2026 Enrollment Report, HCPSS Departments of Human Resources and Employee & Labor Relations 2025 Annual Report, Superintendent’s Proposed FY 2027 Operating Budget and Maryland State Department of Education 2025 Report Card.
Jump to: Schools | Students | Staff | Organization | Partnerships
78
57,031
9,061
SCHOOLS
STUDENTS
STAFF
Our Schools
Schools
HCPSS comprises 78 schools and education centers located throughout Howard County, including:
- 42 Elementary Schools
- 20 Middle Schools
- 13 High Schools
- 1 PK-12 School
- 2 Education Centers
More information on HCPSS schools can be found online.
Teacher to Student Ratio – 2025-2026
- Kindergarten – 1:22
- Grades 1-2 – 1:20
- Grades 3-5 – 1:26
- Grades 6-8 – 1:20.5
- Grades 9-12 – 1:21.8
HCPSS recognizes that having access to clean, healthy, high-quality learning environments is key to student success, and:
- Established and maintain a robust Indoor Environmental Quality program
- Conduct an annual feasibility study to balance capacity, address inequities, and determine if new facilities are needed
- Use LEED standards to guide all HCPSS construction planning to ensure energy efficiency and environmental friendliness
In addition, we are proud that:
- HCPSS has 44 schools named to the Maryland Green Schools program, reflecting their commitment to developing stewards of the earth and reducing their environmental impact.
- HCPSS has two schools, Bollman Bridge Elementary and West Friendship Elementary, that earned 2025-2026 Purple Star designation in recognition of their strong services and support for students from military families. Bellows Springs Elementary School also earned Purple Star designation in 2024.
- Guilford Elementary School has twice received a Green Flag Award from the National Wildlife Federation’s National Wildlife Federation in recognition of the school’s exceptional achievement in educating for sustainability, improving the environmental footprint of the school grounds, facility and curriculum.
Our Students
HCPSS’ students are our highest priority. The school system’s strategic plan places students first. Every decision we make and every action we take is driven by our desire to help them succeed.
Information below is for the 2025-2026 school year, unless otherwise identified.
Total Enrollment – 57,031
- Prekindergarten – 1,415
- Elementary (K-5) – 23,868
- Middle (6-8) – 13,163
- High (9-12) – 18,342
- PK-12 – 133
- Education Center – 110
Race/Ethnicity
- American Indian/Alaskan* – <5.0%
- Asian – 23.7%
- Black/African American – 25.4%
- Hawaiian/Pacific Islander* – <5.0%
- Hispanic/Latino – 14.3%
- White – 28.5%
- Two or more races – 7.3%
*Percents of less than 5 have been suppressed to meet state and local standards. Enrollment for American Indian/Alaskan and Hawaiian/Pacific Islander are included in all students but not reported separately.
Attendance Rate: 93.8%
Students Receiving Special Services
- Free and Reduced-Priced Meals – 31.1%
- Multilingual Learners – 7.2%
- Special Education – 12.2%
Gifted and Talented Program (2024-2025)
Percentage of students who participated in Gifted and Talented Education Program offerings:
- K to 5 – 76% (Primary Talent Development programming delivered to all students in grades K-1)
- Grades 6–8 – 62%
- Grades 9–12 – 72%
Graduation Rate (Class of 2024): 93.54%
Our Staff
At HCPSS, we are powered by passionate, dedicated professionals who are driven to inspire growth, well-being, and excellence for all our students.
Our outstanding teachers and staff are the backbone of the school system. This dedicated team of professionals brings experience, creativity, and a commitment to equity to everything they do, helping to distinguish HCPSS as one of the nation’s leading school systems.
More than 90% of HCPSS employees work in schools each day, with over half of those being classroom teachers.
Employees: 2025-2026
- Total Staff: 9,061
- Teachers: 4,670
Race/Ethnicity
- American Indian/Alaskan – <1%
- Asian – 7%
- Black/African American – 19%
- Hawaiian/Pacific Islander – <1%
- Hispanic/Latino – 5%
- White – 66%
- Two or more races – 2%
Employee Pay
- Since 2019, starting teacher salaries at HCPSS have increased by 55.8%.
- With step increases and general wage adjustments, teacher pay has grown by an average of 6.5% per year.
- Salaries for support staff since 2019 have seen a 29% increase.
HCPSS Careers and Opportunities
Our Organization
Leadership
HCPSS is led by a seven-person Board of Education that includes one student member. All members of the Board are publicly elected except the student member, who is elected by HCPSS middle and high school students. The Board formulates and adopts educational policies consistent with state and federal laws governing public education. At the direction of the Board, the HCPSS Superintendent and school system staff develop policies and administrative procedures to support policy decisions.
Learn more about the Howard County Board of Education and the HCPSS Superintendent.
Strategic Plan
The HCPSS strategic plan reflects HCPSS’ ongoing commitment to educational equity; five focus areas of attendance, reading by grade 3, middle school mathematics proficiency, college and career ready, and effective discipline practices; Maryland’s Blueprint for the Future’s requirements; and stakeholder values.
Access and learn more about the Strategic Plan.
Budget
HCPSS’ fiscal year runs July 1-June 30. The district’s budget is funded through a combination of sources, including those at the county, state, and federal levels.
Details about HCPSS’ budgets can be found online.
Per Pupil Expenditures
2024-2025 (budgeted)
- Per Day: $112.78
- Per Year: $20,300
2025-2026 (budgeted)
- Per Day: $120.22
- Per Year: $21,640
Our Partners
Partnerships
HCPSS benefits from robust partnerships with businesses and organizations within Howard County and beyond. Supplying everything from internship opportunities for our students to discounted wellness programs for our teachers, our partners help to ensure that HCPSS remains one of the top school systems in the state and the nation.
Bright Minds Foundation
Bright Minds is the Howard County Public Schools Educational Foundation. Its mission is to enhance the educational experiences of all Howard County public school students by bringing together community support for academic initiatives and opportunities that increase education access, innovation, and equity.